The blog of Windows Wally, a Windows Support Technician helping common people solve frustrating computer problems.

How To Fix Windows 10 Activation Error 0x803FA071

Reader Question:“Hi Wally, I installed a new motherboard but kept the old hard drive with genuine activated Windows installed in it. Now, when the computer’s telling me that the product key is already in use Error code: 0x803FA071. How do I fix this?” – Darrell G., USA

Before addressing any computer issue, I always recommend scanning and repairing any underlying problems affecting your PC health and performance:

Setting up weekly (or daily) automatic scans will help prevent system problems and keep your PC running fast and trouble-free.

Wally’s Answer: Making a Custom PC can be exciting, but running into problems isn’t fun at all. Here, we will look at the 0x803FA071 error after making major hardware changes to the computer.

Note: This will not work for activating Windows on two different computers. One copy of Windows can only be used on one computer at a time.

Problem

The user activated Windows on a computer at some point. Later, the user installed a new motherboard in the CPU. The computer seems to be working fine. However, Windows does not run normally, showing an error saying:

This product key is being used on another PC. Please try a different key. Error code: 0x803FA071

Cause

When Windows is activated on a computer, it saves information about the hardware of the computer. This includes the motherboard.

If the motherboard is changed, this information no longer matches, and Windows shows an error saying 0x803FA071

Solution

Here are a few ways to fix the 0x803FA071 error:

How To Activate Windows After Changing The Motherboard?

If you have made major changes to your computer (or device) then you will need to activate Windows using the phone. You can do this by running the SLUI 04 command. Here’s how:

Is Your PC Healthy?

I always recommend to my readers to regularly use a trusted registry cleaner and optimizer such as WinThruster or CCleaner. Many problems that you encounter can be attributed to a corrupt and bloated registry.

Happy Computing!

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About the Author

Wally PhillipsWindows Wally is a helpful guy. It’s just in his nature. It’s why he started a blog in the first place. He heard over and over how hard it was to find simple, plain-English solutions to Windows troubleshooting problems on the Internet. Enter: Windows Wally. Ask away, and he will answer.